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GB2 · 11 September 2013, 02:52 AM

Hi everyone,
I'm a newbie on your forum but I read to you for a long time.
Today, I need help on this.
I would like to know if an insert (Red triangle) + bezel of a 5508 can be fitted on a 6538 ?
Tanks for your answers !

scottb2 · 11 September 2013, 09:25 AM

now why would you want to do this?

mdw3 · 11 September 2013, 10:10 AM

The bezels themselves (that is, the plated brass ring) are not interchangeable between small- and big-crown models. The inserts are all interchangeable and may be swapped as you please (as long as they are not too worn on the edges to ensure a good fit after being removed). I can understand EXACTLY why you would want to do such a thing, and you are not the first to think of this approach.

Michael

scottb2 · 11 September 2013, 06:21 PM

If I had a 6538 I would only want it correct. As we know a 6538 is a much more rare and valuable watch so in stating this I can understand if there is absolutely no other option but its not going to bolster the value or desirability for a 6538. If it were the other way around it makes slightly more sense if you catch my drift. Either way what you said is correct of the actual bezel so doesn't really matter on that part

GB2 · 11 September 2013, 08:37 PM

Many thanks for your answers !
Insert with Red triangle was in use from the last serials of 6538 (from circa 1958). Isn'it ?

powerfunk · 12 September 2013, 12:04 AM

Skeet & Urul's "Vintage Rolex Sports Models" book shows a few 6538's with red-triangle inserts. Personally I have no idea, and I know books are not always right; just figured I'd share. Can we see a wristshot of your 6538?

scottb2 · 12 September 2013, 12:39 AM

power funk - thank you for this - can you post the same for the 5508 section?

powerfunk · 12 September 2013, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottb2

power funk - thank you for this - can you post the same for the 5508 section?

I suppose I can post one more! Again, credit goes to Skeet & Urul's book. Hope they don't mind.

Actually the only two 5508's they show have normal (non-red) inserts.

GB2 · 12 September 2013, 02:46 AM

Sorry but I've no pics.
I just require some informations for my personal knowledge and your forum is certainly the best one.

Thanks a lot !!!!

GB2 · 12 September 2013, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerfunk

I suppose I can post one more! Again, credit goes to Skeet & Urul's book. Hope they don't mind.

Actually the only two 5508's they show have normal (non-red) inserts.

IMHO, later 5508 have no Red Triangle insert.

scottb2 · 12 September 2013, 04:39 AM

well I think the info rob gave was excellent - but without a pic of your watch that is not helping - we share info with you and it would be nice if you share some back

thanks
S

GB2 · 12 September 2013, 04:56 AM

@ rob : thank you for your info.
IMHO, later 5508 have no Red triangle insert.
@ scottb2: I apologize... I only try to have informations on order to buy, in a (next) future a 6538. And the problem of the insert is very hard to resolve...

Cheers

powerfunk · 12 September 2013, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GB2

Sorry but I've no pics.
I just require some informations for my personal knowledge...

And here I thought I was gonna get some sweet NCG-Sub wrist shots out of this deal! Do you own a 6538? Or are you considering purchasing one? Some pics would really go a long way towards demonstrating your goodwill.

scottb2 · 12 September 2013, 06:34 AM

+1

GB2 · 12 September 2013, 07:21 AM

Rob: thank you for your info.
IMHO, later 5508 have not Red triangle insert.
Scottb2 : I apologize but I only try to get some informations in order to buy, in the (next) future, a 6538.

mdw3 · 12 September 2013, 09:23 AM

This book is not a reliable source for sussing out details for these (or any) Rolex models. It contains facsimile images of artist renderings only, and not actual photos of unique watches. ALL so-called "James Bond" Submariners from the late-1950s period were delivered new with red-triangle inserts. The changeover to the later style didn't occur until c. 1960. Any 5508 delivered after 1960 (there were several later batches, as late as 1962 for the 4-line version) will wear the modern-font bezel without red triangle.

Michael

powerfunk · 12 September 2013, 11:49 PM

Thanks for the info Michael!

scottb2 · 13 September 2013, 12:22 AM

hey Michael - can you recommend the correct book pls?

powerfunk · 13 September 2013, 12:33 AM

I think we're typing on the best "book" there is on the subject.

Books are a nice starting point for general ideas of watches but for details like dial and bezel typefaces and serial number ranges etc. I trust the collective wisdom of TRF the most.

lipton1 · 13 September 2013, 12:57 AM

Thanks to all, very interesting post !

Cc1966 · 13 September 2013, 01:22 AM

Learned a lot also in these posts.

marcello pisani · 13 September 2013, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdw3

This book is not a reliable source for sussing out details for these (or any) Rolex models. It contains facsimile images of artist renderings only, and not actual photos of unique watches.

Michael

and maybe forums are better than most books !!

GB2 · 13 September 2013, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcello pisani

and maybe forums are better than most books !!

+1

mdw3 · 13 September 2013, 03:48 AM

I'm sorry to say that there does not exist any book that covers this type of detail with any level of accuracy. If you want to learn about these models, there is no substitute for handling as many of these watches as you can!

Michael

11 September 2013, 02:52 AM	#1
GB2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Paris Posts: 62	Insert Red triangle... Hi everyone, I'm a newbie on your forum but I read to you for a long time. Today, I need help on this. I would like to know if an insert (Red triangle) + bezel of a 5508 can be fitted on a 6538 ? Tanks for your answers !

13 September 2013, 01:22 AM	#21
Cc1966 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Real Name: Christopher Location: Georgia, USA Watch: ing the Sea... Posts: 6,713	Learned a lot also in these posts. __________________ "I wish to have no Connection with any Ship that does not Sail fast for I intend to go in harm's way." Captain John Paul Jones, 16 November 1778 "*Curmudgeons* " Favorites: 1665 SD, Sub Date, DSSD, Exp II, Sub LV, GMTIIc

11 September 2013, 09:25 AM	#2
scottb2 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 651	now why would you want to do this?

11 September 2013, 10:10 AM	#3
mdw3 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 677	The bezels themselves (that is, the plated brass ring) are not interchangeable between small- and big-crown models. The inserts are all interchangeable and may be swapped as you please (as long as they are not too worn on the edges to ensure a good fit after being removed). I can understand EXACTLY why you would want to do such a thing, and you are not the first to think of this approach. Michael

11 September 2013, 06:21 PM	#4
scottb2 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 651	If I had a 6538 I would only want it correct. As we know a 6538 is a much more rare and valuable watch so in stating this I can understand if there is absolutely no other option but its not going to bolster the value or desirability for a 6538. If it were the other way around it makes slightly more sense if you catch my drift. Either way what you said is correct of the actual bezel so doesn't really matter on that part

11 September 2013, 08:37 PM	#5
GB2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Paris Posts: 62	Many thanks for your answers ! Insert with Red triangle was in use from the last serials of 6538 (from circa 1958). Isn'it ?

12 September 2013, 12:04 AM	#6
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,799	Skeet & Urul's "Vintage Rolex Sports Models" book shows a few 6538's with red-triangle inserts. Personally I have no idea, and I know books are not always right; just figured I'd share. Can we see a wristshot of your 6538?

12 September 2013, 12:39 AM	#7
scottb2 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 651	power funk - thank you for this - can you post the same for the 5508 section?

12 September 2013, 02:46 AM	#9
GB2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Paris Posts: 62	Sorry but I've no pics. I just require some informations for my personal knowledge and your forum is certainly the best one. Thanks a lot !!!!

12 September 2013, 04:39 AM	#11
scottb2 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 651	well I think the info rob gave was excellent - but without a pic of your watch that is not helping - we share info with you and it would be nice if you share some back thanks S

12 September 2013, 04:56 AM	#12
GB2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Paris Posts: 62	@ rob : thank you for your info. IMHO, later 5508 have no Red triangle insert. @ scottb2: I apologize... I only try to have informations on order to buy, in a (next) future a 6538. And the problem of the insert is very hard to resolve... Cheers

12 September 2013, 06:34 AM	#14
scottb2 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 651	+1

12 September 2013, 07:21 AM	#15
GB2 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Paris Posts: 62	Rob: thank you for your info. IMHO, later 5508 have not Red triangle insert. Scottb2 : I apologize but I only try to get some informations in order to buy, in the (next) future, a 6538.

12 September 2013, 09:23 AM	#16
mdw3 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 677	This book is not a reliable source for sussing out details for these (or any) Rolex models. It contains facsimile images of artist renderings only, and not actual photos of unique watches. ALL so-called "James Bond" Submariners from the late-1950s period were delivered new with red-triangle inserts. The changeover to the later style didn't occur until c. 1960. Any 5508 delivered after 1960 (there were several later batches, as late as 1962 for the 4-line version) will wear the modern-font bezel without red triangle. Michael

12 September 2013, 11:49 PM	#17
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,799	Thanks for the info Michael!

13 September 2013, 12:22 AM	#18
scottb2 Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Posts: 651	hey Michael - can you recommend the correct book pls?

13 September 2013, 12:33 AM	#19
powerfunk "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Real Name: Rob Location: Boston, MA Watch: 1530 Posts: 3,799	I think we're typing on the best "book" there is on the subject. Books are a nice starting point for general ideas of watches but for details like dial and bezel typefaces and serial number ranges etc. I trust the collective wisdom of TRF the most.

13 September 2013, 12:57 AM	#20
lipton1 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Paris Posts: 21	Thanks to all, very interesting post !

13 September 2013, 03:48 AM	#24
mdw3 "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 677	I'm sorry to say that there does not exist any book that covers this type of detail with any level of accuracy. If you want to learn about these models, there is no substitute for handling as many of these watches as you can! Michael

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